Romanian F-16s shoot down two drones over Black Sea on Saturday
Two Romanian F-16 jets shot down two drones over the Black Sea near the town of Sulina on Saturday evening, Euronews and DW reported. The first drone was hit within two minutes of entering Romanian airspace, Defence Minister Radu Miruta said. Romania has not said where the drones came from, DW reported.
Two Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two drones over Romania's Black Sea waters near the town of Sulina on Saturday evening, Euronews and DW reported.
The first drone entered Romanian airspace at about 17:59 local time and was shot down "within two minutes," Defence Minister Radu Miruta said, according to Euronews and DW. Euronews quoted Miruta as saying the first drone fell 25 kilometers southeast of Sulina. "The second drone, in the same area, was engaged and shot down at 18:05, five minutes after entering national airspace, 20 km east of Sulina," Miruta said, according to Euronews. DW reported that the jets downed the drones about 20 kilometers southeast of Sulina. The ministry's own statement gave no distance, saying only that the first drone was downed southeast of Sulina and the second east of it.
The two jets were flying air policing missions and were scrambled from the 86th air base at Borcea, Euronews reported, citing a Defence Ministry press release. Euronews said the ministry later called the targets "jet-powered attack drones from the Geran family." DW said no information had been released about where the drones came from.
Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on X that NATO would discuss Black Sea security, Euronews and DW reported. DW said the North Atlantic Council will meet on Tuesday. "The Black Sea will be safe again," Toiu wrote, according to DW.
The shootdown follows other drone incidents near Romania's coast, Euronews and DW reported. On Thursday, two chemical tankers were attacked off the coast, and seven crew members are missing, DW reported.
Romania is a member of NATO and the European Union, and it shares a 614-kilometer border with Ukraine, DW reported. The country sits on NATO's eastern flank and has faced a surge of drone incursions linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, Euronews reported.
What we know: Romanian F-16s shot down two drones near Sulina on Saturday evening, and NATO allies will discuss Black Sea security.
What we don't: Who launched the drones, and whether NATO will change its air defense in the region.
Where outlets agree Euronews and DW report that Romanian F-16s shot down two drones over the Black Sea near Sulina on Saturday evening.
Where they differ Euronews quotes the defence minister as placing the first drone 25 kilometers southeast of Sulina and the second 20 kilometers east, while DW says the drones were downed about 20 kilometers southeast of Sulina.